Hook device for log binder



y 1967 o. M EACHERN HOOK DEVICE FOR LOG BINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1964 BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLA/POU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS y 2, 1967 D. MOEACHERN 3,316,602

HOOK DEVICE FOR LOG BINDER Filed Oct. 12, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet z DONALD McEACHER/V INVENTOR BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS y 1967 D. MCEACHERN 3,316,602

HOOK DEVICE FOR LOG BINDER Filed Oct. 12, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 DONALD MCEACHERN By M/VE/VTOR BUCK/40PM FLO/PE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,316,602 HOOK DEVICE FOR LOG BINDER Donald McEacher-n, 1515 25th St., Longview, Wash. 98632 Filed Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 403,269 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-241) This invention relates to a method of handling logs during transport thereof from the woods to the mill, and also relates to a wrapper and quick release hook device used in handling the logs.

It is common practice in providing a bundle of logs to have two sets of wrappers, usually in pairs. One set of wrappers has associated therewith a pair of binders which tighten the wrappers around a group of logs, providing bundles of logs. The second pair of wrappers usually has some sort of wedging-type connecting means.

In one type of handling system with which my invention has particular application, the logs are transported from the woods on a truck with two pairs or sets of wrappers secured therearound, When the vehicle or truck reaches a pond or river into which the bundle is to be deposited, a grapple or sling is used to elevate the bundle of logs. After the logs have been elevated, the binders are removed along with the associated wrappers, leaving the other pair or set of wrappers in place. Then the bundle of logs is deposited in the pond or river and towed or moved to the mill. When it is desired to use the logs, a grapple is employed to embrace the bundle of logs and elevate them or lift them into the mill. While in the embrace of the grapple, the remaining wrappers are then removed from the bundle although the removal is difficult because the wedging connectors for the wrappers become so tightly wedged in place that it is difficult to remove them. Quite frequently the mill hands merely cut the cables rather than attempt to disconnect the wedging means. This is obviously an expensive practice.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for handling logs which eliminates the necessity for the employment of two sets of wrappers.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved wrapper which can remain on the logs from the woods to the mill and which, though securely holding the logs in bundle form, can be readily disconnected from around the logs and reused time and time again.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved quick-rrelease hook device, especially one which can be used with either a chain or a cable-type wrapper.

Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from the folowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 15 show various steps in handling logs during transport from the woods to the mill in accordance with the novel steps of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a quick-release hook device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the hook device, taken on a somewhat smaller scale from that shown in FIG. 6, showing the hook having a link of a chain held therein;

FIG. 8 is a view of the quick-release hook device showing the hook in its open condition for either releasing a chain or facilitating insertion of a chain link into the hook;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the quick-release hook device;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the device of FIG. 9, taken on a somewhat smaller scale, and showing the hook in its open releasing or receiving position;

FIG. 11 shows the hook device with the hook in its 3,316,692 Patented May 2, 1967 closed position and showing a cable type wrapper held by the hook;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, my improved wrapper comprises a length of cable 21 to one end of which is connected a length of chain 23; A hook device 25 is connected to the free end of the length of cable 21. FIG. 1 shows that a conventional binder device 27 has been connected between the hook device 25 and the length of chain 23 and around the logs L which are stacked on the logging truck T for transport from the woods to a deposit station. It will be understood that the logs L are stacked on the logging truck T in the conevntional fashion and after stacking is completed, the wrapper is passed around the logs (there being ample space for this to occur since the spaced bunks B of the logging truck provide room for this). After the wrapper is passed around the group of logs, the binder 27 is hooked onto the hook device 25 and onto a selected link of the chain 23 and then the handle 29 of the binder device is thrown from its inoperative to its operative position to tighten up on the wrapper and secure it tightly around the logs. Another wrapper is secured around the group of logs to complete the bundling operation.

The truck T is then driven from the woods to a deposit station and in a particular environment in which the present invention finds its most advantageous use, there is a grapple 61 at the deposit station (near a pond or river) for embracing and lifting the bundle of logs as shown in FIG. 2. After the bundle has been lifted, and While the grapple 61 is embracing the bundle and holding the bundle in its grouped condition, the binder 27 is released and separated from the hook device 25 and the length of chain 23.

Thereafter, and while the group of logs is in grouped or bundled condition, the chain 23 is hooked into the hook device 25, as shown in FIG. 3, to serve to retain the logs in their bundled condition. Thus, when the logs are subsequently deposited into the pond P (and the term pond will also be used to include a body of water such as a river) the logs are retained in bundled form, as evident from FIG. 4.

Thereafter, when it is desired to use the logs, a grapple such as 62 (FIG. 5) embraces the logs and lifts them from the body of water in which they float, and while the bundle of logs is retained in group form, the chain 23 is separated from the hook device 25. Thereafter the wrapper may be readily removed from around the bundle of logs to free the logs for use in the mill.

FIGS. 6 through 8 better show the construction of the hook device 25. The device includes a body 31 which has a log-engaging bearing plate 33 to rest or bear against the logs. The body 31 has a pair of remotely located end portions 35 and 37. End portion 35 has an eye 39 to which one end of the cable 21 is connected. The other end portion 37 has an eye 41 pivotally receiving a chain link 43, One chain link is shown although a second or third link could be provided, if desired. The purpose of the link 43 is to provide a means of connection for one end of the binder 27 which has hooks at its opposite ends. One hook on the binder is hooked onto the link 43 and the other hook on the binder is hooked onto a link of chain 23 (see FIG. 1) to facilitate tightening of the wrapper around the logs. It should be pointed out at this time that all logging truck operators have binders as part of their equipment and thus it is not necessary to provide binders along with the wrappers of the present invention.

The hook device 25 includes a hook 51 which is pivotally mounted at 53 on the body 31 to and between a pair of hook-mounting plate portions 55 provided by the body 31.

The hook 51 has a chain link receiving mouth 57 which is closed in FIG. 6 by a hasp-type latch 59 pivotally mounted on the body at 61 having a drive fit with a tail portion 63 of the hook 51. The drive fit of the latch member with the hook is important in order to keep the hook securely in place during transport of the logs from one place to another.

FIG. 8 shows that the latch member has a handle 65 which is optional. When the latch member is driven free of the hook, the hook can be swung to its open position shown in FIG, 8 where it can receive a link of chain 23.

As is apparent from FIGS. 7 and 8, the width of the mouth 57 is such as to loosely receive a link C of the chain 23 but it is evident that the width of the mouth is such that the adjacent chain links, such as C in FIG. 7, cannot pass through the mouth in a lateral direction and thus the link C effectively constitutes a. knob or knoblike projection abutting against the hook.

When the hook is swung to its operative position, the chain link C assumes the position shown in FIG. 7 where it cannot become dislodged from the hook device because the hook device is effectively closed by the latch member 59. Actually, when the hook device is in its closed position, the latch member 59 holds the hook in such a position that the chain link C cannot become dislodged because upward movement of the link C (as shown in FIG. 7) would cause it to engage an adjacent portion of the body 31. It is further ointed out that in the closed position of the hook, the tension on the chain exerts a pull on the hook along a path which passes to the right of the pivot 53. Thus the tension urges the hook to remain in its closed position.

While the wrapper described in FIGS. 1-5 has a flexible element in the form of a cable and chain unit, the element could be entirely chain, if desired.

FIGS. 9 through 12 show a modified form of hook device in which the body 81 has an eye 83 to facilitate connection of an end of the cable 21 to the body 81. A hook 85 is pivotally mounted at 87 between spaced platelike portions 89 of the body 81. There is a hasp-type latch 91 pivotally mounted at 93 on the body 81 and having a drive fit with the portion 95 of the hook 85.

The hook 85 has a chain link receiving mouth 96 generally similar to the mouth 57 of the hook 551 and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the mouth 97 is a second hook 99. The purpose of the second hook 99 is to receive a cable 101 having a series of spaced knobs 103. While the wrapper shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a length of cable and a length of chain, a wrapper may be provided which comprises only a length of cable having knobs 103 thereon to take the place and perform the function of the length of chain. With a wrapper such as indicated in FIG. 11, it is contemplated that the binder used with it will have means for receiving a knob.

It is pointed out that the mouths 96 and 99 are so related to one another that regardless of whether a chain is fitted in the mouth 96 or a cable in the mouth 97,

the tensioned portions of such flexible elements will occupy substantially the same position relative to the body of the hook device.

FIG. 12 shows that the portion 95 of the hook has a pair of laterally projecting bosses 107 which have a drive fit with the hasp 91.

Having described the invention in what is considered to be the preferred embodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the invention is not to be limited other than by the provisions of the following claim.

I claim:

A quick release hook comprising:

a body,

a hook pivoted on said body for movement from an open to a closed position,

said hook having a first mouth formed to receive a flexible element in the form of a chain;

said mouth facing in a predetermined direction in the closed position of said hook, said hook having a second mouth on one side thereof formed to receive a flexible element in the form of a chain,

said second mouth facing in the same direction as the first mentioned mouth and disposed in a plane generally perpendicular thereto,

and a single latch for releasably retaining said hook in its closed position,

said latch in its operative latching position effectively closing both mouths to prevent the dislodgment therefrom of any flexible element in either,

said latch being in the form of a hasp pivoted on said body,

said hasp having a drive fit with a portion of said hook so as to securely hold said hook in position until the hasp is driven out of engagement with said hook, said mouths being dimensioned so that a portion of a knob on the flexible element can be received by one mouth when a portion of the flexible element is received by the other mouth.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 462,721 11/1891 Monroe 294-83 1,453,874 5/ 1923 Hotchkiss 254-78 1,464,665 8/1923 Shinskie 24242 1,517,019 11/1924 Serl 24232 1,744,538 1/1930 Frazier 24230.5 2,273,167 2/1942 Anderson 24241 X 2,564,442 8/1951 Moore 24-71 X FOREIGN PATENTS 590,085 1/1960 Canada.

646,660 6/ 1937 Germany.

132,818 7/ 1929 Switzerland,

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

D. A. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiner. 

